The Crew Academy (TCA), a training school for interior yacht crew has introduced practical service courses, to enable students to practice new-found skills in a simulated yacht environment, much like method acting.

The Crew Academy (TCA), a training school for interior yacht crew has introduced practical service courses

The Crew Academy’s unique partnerships with large, luxury brands allow students to use the very best products to practice with.

Cocktail training

The Crew Academy believe that hands-on, practical experience is paramount

The company’s Yacht Service Level 2 course gives trainee’s four opportunities to practice a range of service styles, serving real guests, with real food, produced by an experienced yacht chef.

Charlotte Roch from The Crew Academy explained to Yachting Pages, “It is important that our courses arm interior crew with the necessary skills, confidence, etiquette and expertise needed to work in the yachting industry. Students need practical experience as well as theory and that’s what our courses offer.

“We work with the same high quality equipment that can be found on board the largest yachts, and therefore students come away with the confidence to manage a variety of pressurised situations with ease.”

The Crew Academy’s unique partnerships with some of the largest, luxury brands in the world provide them with access to highly experienced trainers, as well as the very best products to practice with. Partners include, Moet Hennessy, Diageo and Illy.

TCA offers a range of courses to suit all levels; their Yacht Service Level 1 is aimed at beginners, TSL 2 is for interior crew that have worked more than one season, and YSL3 is for those looking to take a step up from senior stew/stewardess to a chief stew/stewardess position.

The training school also offers a unique purser course. This is an intensive, three-week course, covering all aspects of administration, HR, management and accounting.

In an interview with Yachting Pages, Charlotte added, “We believe that hands-on, practical experience is paramount, and therefore all of our service courses have practical opportunities for the students to use their new skills.

“We work closely with the PYA to review and asses our courses on an on-going basis. At this time of year, we are extremely busy, as we have enquires from individuals, yachts preparing for the season, as well as those in yard periods, to undertake training. We have been overwhelmed by how quickly word has spread about what we are doing and are simply keen to ensure we maintain our high standards as we move forward.”

Charlotte has also revealed that The Crew Academy is often approached by captains looking for highly trained interior crew, so following attendance of a course; they are regularly able to assist students in finding a suitable position.

The company is currently planning its stand for the Antibes Yacht Show, where they will have a range of trainers on hand, providing demonstrations and offering advice.

The Crew Academy is working with Yachting Pages Media Group to offer its services to captains and crews in the superyacht industry.